OA2077. Accident characteristics that often result in long-term consequences of road users

Abstract Background Road traffic incidents often have sudden and life-changing effects, including reduced productivity, and long-term dependence in daily life. Addressing long-term consequences (LTC) is therefore a key challenge in creating a resilient road transport system. The EU project ProtAct-Us aims to improve the collection of data on physical and cognitive outcomes, and to develop countermeasures and assessment tools that consider accident and injury statistics, including LTCs. Methods To identify use cases that frequently result in LTCs, an analysis was carried out using accident data from the MHH Accident Research Unit (295 cases) and the EU-funded REHABIL-AID project (60 cases). Both databases contain general accident information recorded at the time of the incident, as well as follow-up data on LTCs. This includes information related to pain, reduced mobility, physical, psychological, or social impairments. Results For different types of road users different factors result in higher rates of long-term consequences. For example, car occupants with LTC are often in frontal and rear—end impact scenarios with another car, having injured the thorax, head, neck and lower extremities. While cyclists with long-term consequences are often in single-vehicle accidents or in collisions at junctions with cars with frontal or front-lateral impacts. Here injuries to the upper or lower extremities were most common. Conclusion The analysis of accident data revealed that certain accident types and injured body regions are more likely to lead to long-term consequences. These are not always linked to injury severity and can also psychologically affect uninjured individuals. Based on this information the development of tools and measures will be conducted to reduce such outcomes. Key messages Persons with long-term consequences have specific accident characteristics that differ from those of severe injuries, and they are specific to the different types of road users. Key messages • Persons with long-term consequences have specific accident characteristics that differ from those of severe injuries. • Long-term consequences are specific to the different types of road users. Topic Long-term consequences, traffic accidents, injury outcome.